Fluid circulating apparatus

ABSTRACT

A housing which forms part of a heat exchanger has an inlet port for admission of a fluid into a first compartment and an outlet port which communicates with a pressure chamber of the housing. One end wall of the housing has a first aperture through which the fluid can flow from the first compartment into the heat exchanger proper and a second aperture through which the fluid flows from the heat exchanger proper into a second compartment. A pump in the housing serves to draw fluid from the second compartment and to introduce the fluid into the pressure chamber. A dished or hollow conical fluid flow directing member extends between the two end walls of the housing and guides the fluid toward the impeller of the pump.

United States Patent Honold et al.

14 1 Apr. 1,1975

FLUID CIRCULATING APPARATUS Inventors: Ernst Honold; Heinz-BerndAssignee:

Filed:

Matthias, both of Frankenthal, Germany; Dusan Florjancic, Winterthur.Switzerland Klein, Schanzlin & Becker Aktiengesellschaft,Frankenthal/Pfalz, Germany Oct. 24, 1973 Appl, No.1 409,335

Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 25, 1972 Germany 2252299References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,685,919 8/1972 Speck et al.415/53 Primary E.\'aminerC. J. Husar Assistant E.taminer-L0uis J.Casaregola Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Michael S. Striker [57] ABSTRACT Ahousing which forms part of a heat exchanger has an inlet port foradmission of a fluid into a first compartment and an outlet port whichcommunicates with a pressure chamber of the housing. One end wall of thehousing has a first aperture through which the fluid can flow from thefirst compartment into the heat exchanger proper and a second aperturethrough which the fluid flows from the heat exchanger proper into asecond compartment. A pump in the housing serves to draw fluid from thesecond compartment and to introduce the fluid into the pressure chamber.A dished or hollow conical fluid flow directing member extends betweenthe two end walls of the housing and guides the fluid toward theimpeller of the pump.

17 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 7 l I r in //i I L PATEHZ ZU PR 1 I975SHEET 2 UF 3 FIG. la

FLUID CIRCULATING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention relates to fluid circulating apparatus in general, and moreparticularly to improvements in fluid circulating apparatus of the typewherein the housing or body forms part of or is directly coupled to aheat exchanger or another aggregate wherein the fluid is conditionedprior to pressurization.

It is already known to install a fluid circulating pump directly in oron an aggregate which changes the temperature of and/or otherwiseconditions the fluid. The fluid which is circulated along an endlesspath passes through the aggregate and is pressurized before it reaches aconsumer to be thereupon returned into the aggregate. Typical examplesof such fluid circulating systems are apparatus for desalination of seawater wherein the pump is mounted in the interior of the heat exchangerso that it need not be provided with a discrete pump body and that onecan dispense with discrete conduits which normally connect the inlet andoutlet ports of the pump with the corresponding outlet and inlet portsof the heat exchanger. It is also possible to use such built-in pumps inthe cooling systems of nuclear reactors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide arelatively simple, compact and rugged housing or body which can servefor reception of a fluid circulating pump and which is constructed,assembled and configurated in such a way that it insures a highlysatisfactory flow of fluid to and from the impeller of the pump.

Another object of the invention is to provide a housing or body whichnot only receives a pump but can form an integral part of or is directlyconnectable to an aggregate which conditions the fluid prior to or afterthe fluid is pressurized.

A further object of the invention is to provide in the housing novel andimproved means for promoting the flow of fluid into and from the rangeof the impeller.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a fluid circulatingapparatus which embodies the improved housing.

The invention is embodied in a fluid circulating apparatus whichcomprises a hollow housing having inlet and outlet ports and includinginternal partitions which subdivide its interior into a first orpressure chamber communicating with the outlet port and a second chamberincluding a first compartment in communica tion with the inlet port anda second compartment, the housing further having a first aperturethrough which a fluid which enters the housing via inlet port can leavethe first compartment and a second aperture through which the fluid,after having left the first compartment, can enter the secondcompartment, and a pump which is installed in the housing and serves todraw fluid from the second compartment and to introduce pressurizedfluid into the first chamber.

The apparatus preferably further comprises an aggregate (e.g., a heatexchanger) which includes the housing and through which the fluid flowsbetween the first and second apertures.

The partitions preferably include a dished or hollow conical fluid flowdirecting member which is disposed between the two compartments andserves to direct fluid into the range of impeller vanes forming part ofthe pump rotor.

The novel features which are considered as charac teristic of theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theimproved fluid circulating apparatus itself, however, both as to itsconstruction and its mode of operation, together with additionalfeatures and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal ofthe following detailed description of certain specific embodiments withreference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a longitudinal verticalsectional view of an apparatus which embodies one form of the invention;

FIG. 1a is a horizontal sectional view as seen in the direction ofarrows from the line I-I of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a second apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIGS. 1 and1a, there is shown a housing 3 having a bottom end wall 6, a top endwall 7 and a cylindrical or tubular wall 10. The bottom end wall 6 isformed with a scalable opening 6a for the shaft 1 of a circulating pumphaving an impeller or rotor 2 located in the interior of the housing 3adjacent to the opening 6a. The prime mover which drives the shaft 1 ofthe pump is not shown in the drawing.

The cylindrical wall 10 of the housing 3 has an inlet port 4 for entryof a hydraulic fluid and an outlet port 5 for discharge of pressurizedfluid. A dished fluid flow directing member or partition 8 is mountedbetween the end walls 6, 7. This member can be reinforced by a tubularor annular stiffening or reinforcing element 9 when the pressure offluid is raised to a relatively high value. The element 9 has openings9a through which the fluid can flow against the concave side 8a of themember 8. A composite partition or wall 11 in the housing 3 divides theinterior of the housing into a lower annular chamber 12 for pressurizedfluid and an upper annular chamber which is subdivided into twocompartments 14, 15 in part by the member 8 and in part by a verticalpartition or wall 13 having two sections flanking the fluid flowdirecting member 8. Due to inclination of the partition 11 relative tothe end walls 6 and 7, the chamber 12 resembles a spiral. Thecompartment 14 receives a fluid from the inlet port 4 and dischargesdirectly into an aggregate 50 which is rigid with and preferablyincludes the housing 3. The aggregate 50 may constitute a heat exchangerwhich receives unheated fluid by way of an aperture 16 in the top endwall 7 and discharges heated fluid into the compartment 15 by way of anaperture 17 in the top end wall 7. Fluid which enters the compartment 15via aperture 17 flows through the openings 9a of the reinforcing element9, along the concave side 8a of the fluid flow directing member 8, andinto the range of vanes of the impeller 2. The configuration of therighthand side 8a of the member 8 is such that it promotes the flow offluid into the range of the impeller 2. The latter is immediatelypreceded by an insert 18 which constitutes a fluid flow acceleratingdevice and can be removed from the housing 3 upon removal of the pump byway of the opening 6a. The member 8 is rigid (and preferably integral)with a guide 19 having vanes or blades 20 which direct pressurized fluidinto the chamber 12. The guide 19 can be assembled of several sec tionswhich can be individually inserted into or with drawn from the housing3. This is desirable because any damage which occurs is most likely todevelop in the region of the guide 19. By subdividing the guide 19 intoseveral sections, one can replace a damaged section and continue toutilize the remaining sections.

The operation is as follows:

A hydraulic fluid enters the compartment 14 via inlet port 4 and leavesthe compartment 14 by way of the aperture 16 to enter the aggregate 50.The latter discharges conditioned fluid into the compartment viaaperture 17, and such fluid is guided by the member 8, the right-handportion of the partition 11 and accelerating device 18 to flow into therange of the impeller 2. Pressurized fluid enters the pressure chamber12 between the blades 20 of the guide 19 and is permitted to leave thehousing 3 via outlet port 5. The fluid passes through a consumer, notshown, and is returned to the inlet port 4.

The top end wall 7 of the housing 3 can be provided with two or moreapertures 16 and/or with two or more apertures 17.

FIG. 2 illustrates a second fluid circulating apparatus wherein all suchparts which are identical with or clearly analogous to the correspondingparts of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by similar referencecharacters. The dished fluid flow directing member 8 is replaced by ahollow concial fluid flow directing member 21 having in its upperportion openings in the form of slots 22 which allow a fluid to flowfrom the compartment 15 into the range of the impeller 2. Asubstantially frustoconical hollow auxiliary guide 23 is provided in thefluid flow directing member 21 to induce the fluid to flow into thespace which is surrounded by the accelerating device 18.

The concial fluid flow directing member 21 reduces the volume of thepressure chamber 12. This chamber is fully surrounded by the member 21.A duct 24 connects an opening 21a in the member 21 with the outlet port5. If the duct 24 is omitted, the pressure chamber includes that spacewhich is numbered 12 in FIG. 2 plus the space surrounding the lowerportion of the member 21 at a level below the inclined partition 11.This partition is somewhat simpler than the partition 11 of FIG. 1 dueto provision of the duct 24.

The structure of FIG. 2 can be modified by replacing the conical fluidflow directing member 21 with a member of similar configuration whichextends from the top end wall 7 to the upper end of the auxiliary guide23.

The flow of fluid is similar to that of fluid in the apparatus ofFIG. 1. Thus, fluid enters the compartment 14 via inlet port 4 andleaves this compartment to enter the aggregate (not shown) via aperture16. The aperture 17 admits conditioned fluid into the compartment 15,and such fluid enters the interior of the conical fluid flow directingmember 21 by way of slots 22 to flow in the parts 23, 18 and into therange of the impeller 2. Pressurized fluid enters the chamber 12 betweenthe vanes 20 and flows into the outlet port 5 via duct 24.

The improved apparatus can be used with advantage in many chemicalplants as well as in aforementioned desalination and nuclear reactorplants.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featureswhich fairly constitute essential characteristics of the genericandspecific aspects of our contribution to the art and, therefore, suchadaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within themeaning and range of.

equivalence of the claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected I by Letters Patentis set forth in the appended claims:

1. In a fluid flow circulating apparatus, a combination comprising ahollow housing having inlet and outlet ports and including internalpartitions subdividing the. y interior of said housing into a firstchamber communieating with said outlet port and a second chamberincluding a first compartment communicating with said inlet port and asecond compartment, said partitions.

ment via said inlet port can leave said first compart- I ment and atleast one second aperture through which fluid leaving said firstcompartment via said first aperture can enter said second compartment;and a pump installed in said housing and arranged to draw fluid.

from said second compartment and to introduce pressurized fluid intosaid first chamber.

2. In a fluid flow circulating apparatus, a combination comprising ahollow housing having inlet and outlet ports and including internalpartitions subdividing the interior of said housing into a first chambercommunicating with said outlet port and a second chamber including afirst compartment communicating with said inlet port and a secondcompartment, said partitions including a hollow conical fluid flowdirecting member disposed between said compartments and having at leastone opening through which the fluid can flow from said secondcompartment into the interior of said fluid flow directing member, saidhousing further hav ing at least one first aperture through which afluid:

which enters said first compartment via said inlet port can leave saidfirst compartment and at least one second aperture through which fluidleaving said first compartment via said first aperture can enter saidsecond.

compartment; and a pump installed in said housing and arranged to drawfluid from said second compartment through the interior of said fluidflow directing member and to introduce pressurized fluid into said firstchamber.

3. In a fluid flow circulating apparatus, a combination comprising ahollow housing having inlet and outlet ports and including a tubularwall, two end walls at the opposite ends of said tubular wall andinternal partitions subdividing the interior of said housing into afirst chamber communicating with said outlet port and a second chamberincluding a first compartment communicating with said inlet port and asecond compartment, said partitions including a hollow conical fluidflow directing member extending between said end walls and said housingfurther having at least one first aperture through which a fluid whichenters said first compartment via said inlet port can leave said firstcomparte ment and at least one second aperture throughwhich fluidleaving said first compartment via said first aperture can enter saidsecond compartment; and a pump installed in said housing and arranged todraw fluid from said second compartment and to introduce pressurizedfluid into said first chamber.

4. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing furthercomprises a tubular wall which is provided with said ports and two endwalls at the ends of said tubular wall, said apertures being provided inone of said end walls and said inclined wall being disposed between saidend walls, said fluid flow directing member extending between said oneend wall and said inclined wall.

5. A combination as defined in claim 4, wherein said partitions furtherinclude a wall which subdivides said second chamber into said first andsecond compartments, said last mentioned wall including two sectionsflanking said fluid flow directing member.

6. A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising a fluidaccelerating device provided between said fluid flow directing memberand said pump.

7. A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said pump has a rotaryimpeller and said accelerating device is located immediately upstream ofsaid impeller.

8. A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said housing has asealable opening for insertion and removal of said accelerating device.

9. A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising aperturcdtubular reinforcing means for said fluid flow directing member, saidhousing further comprising a tubular wall and two end walls at the endsof said tubular wall, said apertures being provided in one of said endwalls and said fluid flow directing member being located in said secondchamber between said first and second compartments.

10. A combination as defined in claim 9, wherein said reinforcing meansincludes an apertured portion in said second compartment.

1 1. A combination as defined in claim 9, wherein said reinforcing meansextends between said end walls.

12. A combination as defined in claim 9, further comprising a guidethrough which the fluid flows between said pump and said first chamber.

13. A combination as defined in claim 12, wherein said guide is integralwith said reinforcing means.

14. A combination as defined in claim 12, wherein said guide comprises aplurality of blades and consists of a plurality of separable sections.

15. A combination as defined in claim 2, further comprising an auxiliaryguide provided in said fluid flow directing member upstream of saidpump.

16. A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein said fluid flowdirecting member surrounds said first chamber and has an opening bymeans of which said first chamber communicates with said outlet port.

17. A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein said fluid flowdirecting member has at least one opening through which the fluid flowsfrom said second compartment into said member, said pump being arrangedto draw fluid from the interior of said fluid flow directing member andsaid partitions further including a wall which is inclined with respectto said end walls and is disposed between said chambers.

1. In a fluid flow circulating apparatus, a combination comprising ahollow housing having inlet and outlet ports and including internalpartitions subdividIng the interior of said housing into a first chambercommunicating with said outlet port and a second chamber including afirst compartment communicating with said inlet port and a secondcompartment, said partitions including a dished fluid flow directingmember disposed between said compartments and an inclined wall disposedbetween said first and second chambers, said housing further having atleast one first aperture through which a fluid which enters said firstcompartment via said inlet port can leave said first compartment and atleast one second aperture through which fluid leaving said firstcompartment via said first aperture can enter said second compartment;and a pump installed in said housing and arranged to draw fluid fromsaid second compartment and to introduce pressurized fluid into saidfirst chamber.
 2. In a fluid flow circulating apparatus, a combinationcomprising a hollow housing having inlet and outlet ports and includinginternal partitions subdividing the interior of said housing into afirst chamber communicating with said outlet port and a second chamberincluding a first compartment communicating with said inlet port and asecond compartment, said partitions including a hollow conical fluidflow directing member disposed between said compartments and having atleast one opening through which the fluid can flow from said secondcompartment into the interior of said fluid flow directing member, saidhousing further having at least one first aperture through which a fluidwhich enters said first compartment via said inlet port can leave saidfirst compartment and at least one second aperture through which fluidleaving said first compartment via said first aperture can enter saidsecond compartment; and a pump installed in said housing and arranged todraw fluid from said second compartment through the interior of saidfluid flow directing member and to introduce pressurized fluid into saidfirst chamber.
 3. In a fluid flow circulating apparatus, a combinationcomprising a hollow housing having inlet and outlet ports and includinga tubular wall, two end walls at the opposite ends of said tubular walland internal partitions subdividing the interior of said housing into afirst chamber communicating with said outlet port and a second chamberincluding a first compartment communicating with said inlet port and asecond compartment, said partitions including a hollow conical fluidflow directing member extending between said end walls and said housingfurther having at least one first aperture through which a fluid whichenters said first compartment via said inlet port can leave said firstcompartment and at least one second aperture through which fluid leavingsaid first compartment via said first aperture can enter said secondcompartment; and a pump installed in said housing and arranged to drawfluid from said second compartment and to introduce pressurized fluidinto said first chamber.
 4. A combination as defined in claim 1, whereinsaid housing further comprises a tubular wall which is provided withsaid ports and two end walls at the ends of said tubular wall, saidapertures being provided in one of said end walls and said inclined wallbeing disposed between said end walls, said fluid flow directing memberextending between said one end wall and said inclined wall.
 5. Acombination as defined in claim 4, wherein said partitions furtherinclude a wall which subdivides said second chamber into said first andsecond compartments, said last mentioned wall including two sectionsflanking said fluid flow directing member.
 6. A combination as definedin claim 1, further comprising a fluid accelerating device providedbetween said fluid flow directing member and said pump.
 7. A combinationas defined in claim 6, wherein said pump has a rotary impeller and saidaccelerating device is located immediately upstream of said impeller. 8.A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said housing has a sealableopening foR insertion and removal of said accelerating device.
 9. Acombination as defined in claim 1, further comprising apertured tubularreinforcing means for said fluid flow directing member, said housingfurther comprising a tubular wall and two end walls at the ends of saidtubular wall, said apertures being provided in one of said end walls andsaid fluid flow directing member being located in said second chamberbetween said first and second compartments.
 10. A combination as definedin claim 9, wherein said reinforcing means includes an apertured portionin said second compartment.
 11. A combination as defined in claim 9,wherein said reinforcing means extends between said end walls.
 12. Acombination as defined in claim 9, further comprising a guide throughwhich the fluid flows between said pump and said first chamber.
 13. Acombination as defined in claim 12, wherein said guide is integral withsaid reinforcing means.
 14. A combination as defined in claim 12,wherein said guide comprises a plurality of blades and consists of aplurality of separable sections.
 15. A combination as defined in claim2, further comprising an auxiliary guide provided in said fluid flowdirecting member upstream of said pump.
 16. A combination as defined inclaim 3, wherein said fluid flow directing member surrounds said firstchamber and has an opening by means of which said first chambercommunicates with said outlet port.
 17. A combination as defined inclaim 3, wherein said fluid flow directing member has at least oneopening through which the fluid flows from said second compartment intosaid member, said pump being arranged to draw fluid from the interior ofsaid fluid flow directing member and said partitions further including awall which is inclined with respect to said end walls and is disposedbetween said chambers.